£4m bid to create 100 jobs

BOSSES at a Doncaster factory hope to create 100 jobs in the next 18 months with a £4 million expansion scheme.

Askern UK Limited has already taken on an extra 24 new staff in the last year and expects to more than double its Doncaster workforce through the plans for the site which manufactures cable drums.

The firm is well on with a planning application for the scheme and experts are carrying out a flood risk assessment for the proposed site of the factory at Askern High Street.

The plan would see part of the company’s land sold for housing, to fund the construction of the new purpose built factory building. The workforce would rise from a current level of around 80.

Managing director Tony Veater said: “We are excited about the proposals of a new factory, and are increasing our export business.

“We are hoping we are exactly the sort of business the Government is trying to encourage, trying to get Britain back on the map as exporters, rather than importing everything.

“We are still waiting for the flood risk assessment and how long it takes for us to move on will depend on how long that takes. We are hoping that we will be able to start putting foundations down in the next six months.”

Exports have trebled in four years and it has enlisted help from the UK Trade and Investment agency to expand further, especially in Europe and the Middle East. Doncaster Council’s Success Doncaster arm provided assistance to the firm.